Nxd5 - Valentin, urvang, 66_Mustang, Elroch, MostWanted147, JRoyer, mottsauce, theriverman, dsarkar, val08, taewondodo, ChuckBurch, Nematode
Qd8 - D3V1L, conman1000, Estragon, alenkanh
The people in red have not stated their reasons for supporting their move. Please edit your posts and do so.
The people in blue have not stated their reason but have provided ample analysis and are exceptions.
What is the big picture?? Will we counter attack on the kingside or the queenside? I am assuming the center will soon be locked up.
ok, I am now happy that 15. ... Nxd5 is the best move, which is a relief, as I am not sure we could stop it being played now even if it was not.
My vote is with D3V1L and Estragon, Qd8.
I prefer Qd8 because it allows for our rook on the c-file to begin active play. Following this move, we can re-locate the queen allowing us to get more play from the two pieces.
15...Nxd5. The double exchange, after examining Dsarkar's analysis, is a matter of personal taste. The Rook belongs on d8 and keeping our Queen on the c file makes more sense, to me.
i prefer Nxd5. I also examined dsarkar's analysis, and everything that needs to be said has been said.
Just as an update, Nxd5 is currently about 375 votes ahead of our other candidate move. It appears that, by mentioning the game in her front-page article yesterday, Natalija has succeeded in adding a huge number of new players to the game, so there's no way of knowing what the total vote is going to be.
I also vote for 15....Nxd5. I dont like her knight there and believe that we will benefit form the exchange.
Thanks for the update stareagle. This means the number of drive-by voters will continue to increase. As such, it is more important that we can work together to overrule their aesthetic votes.
Currently, my vote is for Nxd5. As many have stated, we are a bit more limited keeping the knight on the d5. D3V1L and noodlehead710 have presented the issue of white NOT taking the bad bishop on e7 and instead leaving us with a good bishop vs bad bishop ending (the trade of white bishops is easy for white to force). However, neither Qd8 nor Nxd5 advocated have addressed this issue. As of now, it is impossible for us to improve our bishop. We obviously have to take the knight eventually. If we continue to limit ourselves as we go on, Natalia may get more tempos to improve her position before entering the good bishop vs bad bishop ending which she can more or less force.
My vote goes to Nxd5 for now
15...Nxd5
15....Nxd5. remove her knight - a threat - also, I believe we stand a better chance the fewer pieces on the board as long as we stay even - not sure we can match her on a holistic board view and position. If we slowly remove her pieces we also slowly remove her options (i.e try and level the playing field)
DO NOT VOTE IN THE POGONINA GAME!
We are casting an unofficial vote here for the "Alliance Move". The move that gets chosen should be voted for by ALL members, regardless of which move you supported for in this topic. All members have a chance to contribute to the discussion and persuade others to vote their move so do not be angry if your move was not favored by the majority. You are free to edit your votes here up until 10 hours in the Pogonina game. At that time, we will lock this topic, tally the votes, and announce the official "Alliance move". Please keep up with the discussions so you can factor in new ideas/refutations before you cast your official votes. I recommend all members to begin voting at 12 hours. When you vote, please state the move you vote for and a good reason for why you supported it. Here is an example from Valentin:
To me, the Exchange variation -- with two rounds of exchanges on d5 -- is most appealing in terms of the prospects it leaves us with at the end of the suggested variations (in the main forum for move 15).
I'd consider improving the line even further with 17...Qc6 (instead of 17...Nb6, which would be akin to saying "Nc4 was a poor move", which I don't believe is true).
As I'll be going to bed soon, when you tally the votes here in the Alliance, which I hope will happen in the next 8 hours or less, please consider my vote for 15...N:d5. The alternatives as presented in the main forum for move 15 seem way too passive and defeatist -- and unnecessarily so -- in my opinion.
Your reasons for supporting the move need not be this long, but it should show that you seriously considered other alternatives and looked at the all the variations we've presented.